ALL 2010 Mazda3 Stuff Goes Here

[Donas64]

Boo!! Looks are subjective. But yeah... Those bmws sucked balls

So true and the Pontiac Aztek was proof of that. There are people who think those things look good.

 

[Donas64]

That's either the same power or slightly more than the current European MPS. It's a bit lower than the NA model because of emissions restrictions.

The 2010 Mazdaspeed3 we get in NA is supposed to have 268, which is a small bump.

You guys all expect the car to evolve significantly for some reason. Why would they do that? The car is still at the top of its segment, and significant dynamics/power train/drive train/suspension changes require a lot of time and money to R&D and to get them right - money that no one in the world has right now. The out-going Mazda3 was a winner, a class leader that faced very little competition, and they opted (wisely, I think) to leave it relatively unchanged but give it a bit of a facelift. It's hard to follow up a great car with a ground-up rebuild that is just as good or better, and it's also risky for companies to try this. That's not what this is. The core of the car remains the same. Same platform, same suspension and brakes more or less, same drivetrains more or less.

If you were expecting more, you need to revisit your expectations and understandings of car manufacturing.

Power was never the MS3's problem. The same motor in a more refined package is fine by me.

 

[Sport6]

lol:



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Now it looks like an Evo X

 

[ReadS13]

^^^ bi-polar disorder

 

[CHICO2003]

I think the frown-faced version actually looks better. more... eeeville When making a judgement on a grille, I often think about what my first impression would be if I saw it in my rear-view mirror. The design mazda went with would probably just make me laugh whereas this Scream masked version... s*** man... that dude looks pissed! better let him pass!

 

[CHICO2003]

It's too bad the grille couldn't be hooked up somehow to your mood. Days when you're feelin chipper... crazy smile face. Pissed and ready to fight? scream mask just mindin your own business... nuetral. I'm tellin you... animatronic grilles... hell yeah.

 

[ecniemann]

I kinda like it... got a bit of a mean look to it.... but it is kinda ugly. Kinda like an STI...ugly. My biggest regret about it is the smile, and some of the lines remind me of a 02 mercury cougar or a scion or something (can't quite put my finger on it.) But over all I like it. I like the rear of the car A lot.



I would have to dispute this. I studied aerospace engineering in school (have a degree in it), and spent some time working with wind/water tunnels.

Look at the profile (side view) of the current and 2010 MS3. The curve over the front hood, from about 6 inches below the emblem to the mouth of the scoop can be approximated as 1/4 of a circle or sphere. In fact it is a little less than 1/4. You can use the model of airflow over a sphere or cylinder as an approximation for airflow over the hood.
Spheres/cylinders are horribly un aerodynamic. Not because the face pushing through the air is blunt, but because as the air moves around the sphere and curves around the back of it, you get bad separation effects, causing turbulent flow and hence drag. This separation occurs at a point before the top/bottom of the sphere (again if your looking at a side view/cross section of the sphere).
Where the MS3 differs from the aerodynamic profile of a sphere is in the fact that the hood rises as the air flows from the front edge towards the windshield. This keeps air pressure levels higher on the hood and helps reduce separation effects. The scoop is also placed far enough forward, and sticks up enough to not be effected by separation effects.

Further backing my claim is the salt lines on the hood of my car. I get white streaks from leading edge of the hood almost all the way up to the windshield. They indicate the way the air flows over the front of the car (as it does it pushes water and salt sprayed from the road up the hood). If it did indeed flow as you suggested these lines would cease to be straight after the point of airflow separation.

For an effect like what you talk about, you would need a condition creating a shock wave off the hood of the car. For that you you need near sonic/supersonic (Mach 1 ish) velocities. From there you start dealing with compressible flow issues etc etc etc. Sadly our little Mazdas just can't go that fast.

-Pete

Come on! I expected the 2010's hp increase to be supersonic at minimum, at least Mach 1...........from a roll.

even though delaware doesn't require front license plates, i might be willing to make an exception to help cover up some of that happy face

That's what I said; the plate will cover most of this. Those gills are stupid though. Any reason for that, besides as a "design" point?

 

[ecniemann]

Eat it up kids!

 

[hawaii3]

can you say MATRIXSPEED! ugliest shet ever

 

[SleepyMSP]

there are so many things that I just don't like about the new 3 and MS3...but that ram air hood....i'd rock it...

 

[ElGaspo]

It's too bad the grille couldn't be hooked up somehow to your mood. Days when you're feelin chipper... crazy smile face. Pissed and ready to fight? scream mask just mindin your own business... nuetral. I'm tellin you... animatronic grilles... hell yeah.

i think you're on to something...(rofl)

 

[Captain GJ]

I'm not even going to comment on the front, but what the hell is up with that wheel gap? Granted it will look different in person, but geez. After seeing the promo shots I was pumped about it, but after seeing the auto show shots, not so much. Also after seeing some images of the interior I'm not too sure about that fabric they are using on the door panels and seats. May be too much for my tastes.

 

[TRDMS3]

Can anyone confirm MPS from now on stands for the US mazdaspeed3? Or is it going to remain mazdaspeed3 in North America and MPS in Europe?

Looking at the shots I am sort of liking the new tail lights, I'd love to see them black out tho, about it... can't say it looks any different (back that is) from our current model (except dual exhaust).

Looks like they ripped the headlights off of the Mazda 5. My impression is MEH! Body style: very Matrix/'09 WRX.

Sleeper look gone with the wind, sadly people will definately know now what it is ur driving, I constantly get that's a "regular mazda 3 right?" After you tell them... "wow I didn't know Mazda put this one out!?"

 

[TRDMS3]

The new look is mysteriously haunting... every time I look at my car I can't help it but subcunciously apply the new smile on it. LOL Already looking forward to the 3rd generation curious how it's gonna fix its mess.

 

[pjo113]

I would rather settle for the taped up spy shot version from the Nurburgring than that car. It does look like a Matrix and quite frankly I prefer the '08-09 interior over the '10. It looks like I will be holding on to my '08.5 for some time.

 

[Ajburr]

I will uhh.....pass on the new design. I do not dig it at all.

 

[john blutarski]

I'm sorry but that just looks terrible. I can say that I won't even be able to get used to this like I usually do with model design changes.

 

[Peter B]

Design aside, I'm glad they didn't change too much about it. I like the fact that the car has kinda of has a wild and untamed feel to it. It seems often companies make something like the MS3, then in an attempt to make it better, or appeal to a larger crowd they **** it up. The MS3 was is a great car. It is nice to see that the same performance and unrefined desire to tear up pavement will be present in the next gen, even if it ugly.

Examples: Windows XP vs Vista or the 2002 WRX vs 2008 wrx

Like I said though, im not that apposed to the looks.... maybe thats just cause its so shiny though.

 

[240ka]

can you say MATRIXSPEED! ugliest shet ever

this is the reason why i left my door moldings on.

i dont like our MS3's without moldings they look matrix's to me

 

[bani]

anyone else notice the pushbutton start? this means you never have to take your keys out of your pocket...